Leonard Gene Foster, age 94, passed peacefully into glory and was joyfully reunited with his wife in heaven on March 6, 2026.
Gene was born on March 9, 1931 in Buckley, IL to Vernon and Maude (Workman) Foster.
His family moved to Jasper County and later settled in Kankakee, IL. He married LaFerne Alyce Wakeman on October 9, 1950 in Kankakee. Gene served in the army during the Korea War and was a part of the military police. He was discharged in the fall of 1953. After his return, the young couple moved to Chebanse where they built their new home. He was a long-time member of Immanuel Baptist Church of Kankakee where he served tirelessly in the background helping as needed. He recently became a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Harwood Heights, IL. He retired from A.O. Smith where he worked as an electrician and then from Olivet Nazarene University where he worked in the maintenance department. After retirement the couple enjoyed being snowbirds in Florida. They resided in Leesburg and recently Largo, Florida each winter. He loved spending time with family and had many fun vacations with his 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Gene had one daughter, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and over 40 nieces and nephews.
Gene is survived by his daughter Kathleen (John T.) Orton of Volo, IL; Grandchildren: John R. (Amanda) Orton of Palatine, Kristine (Dr. Bernard) Nartey of Mequon, WI, Kimberly Orton of Chicago; Great-Grandchildren: Noah and Madison Orton; Liliana, Joanna, Micah and Josiah Nartey; Siblings: Virgil Foster of St. Anne, Mary Helen Carlson of Bradley, Donald Foster of Nevada.
Preceding him in death are his parents, brothers Russel Foster of Colorado and Orville Foster of Kankakee and sister Ruby Seedoof of Kankakee.
Funeral services will be on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church (1300 W Hawkins St, Kankakee, IL 60901). The visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral at the church from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Burial will be immediately after the funeral service in Evergreen Cemetery in Chebanse with graveside military rites by the Central VFW and Ashkum American Legion.
Gene and LaFerne had special pride in their grandchildren. John as a church youth director, Kristi as a nurse and mom and Kimberly who was recently welcomed as a Converge Global worker. As Kimberly begins her support raising, we ask In lieu of flowers to send any memorial gifts to Converge at Department 9930, P.O. Box 850001, Orlando, Florida, 32885, (with Kimberly Orton on the memo line) to help get Kim to the mission field.
Arrangements are by the Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton.
Please share a memory of Leonard at www.knappfuneralhomes.com.
